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2011 Insight, 89,000 miles. Just bought in June from my sister who got it from a reputable dealership. Diagnostics done on IMA at the time indicated nothing terrible. Ran like a charm all summer.
I got used to looking at how the battery charged and discharged. Until a month ago, the norm was 4/5 full. It would occasionally run to 1/2. Never below that.
Then a cold snap. My car was exposed in the street and unable to be run for 4 days in temps averaging -15 to 10. I did run it on idle 1/2 an hour twice a day.
Then disaster. The day after the snap ended, I left a dome light on, and the car needed a jump. Right away I could tell the IMA was different. It would go from zero charge to 100% in a blink, then struggled to stay over 50%.
Today I took a trip to a local mall, taking the interstate. The battery showed 4/5 upon start then on the 6 mile trip into town (to catch the interstate), the battery dipped to 50%, despite braking several times at lights (with ECO on). Mpg was 38. I’d usually get 43mpg.
Within 3 minutes of getting on the interstate, with ECO off to start, my IMA went to 0% even before any inclines, and remained there for the 8 miles of incline it took to get to the mall. It was charging the entire time, but not assisting at all. On the trip home, a gentle slope, it jumped to 100% full and assisted normally. My mpg jumped to 46.
Did something happen in the cold? Or the jump? It’s like it went from a healthy battery pack to a dying one overnight. Or was it just cold? It was 38°. Should I run the car in the neighborhood for 15 minutes before going on a highway now, or let it idle?
I got used to looking at how the battery charged and discharged. Until a month ago, the norm was 4/5 full. It would occasionally run to 1/2. Never below that.
Then a cold snap. My car was exposed in the street and unable to be run for 4 days in temps averaging -15 to 10. I did run it on idle 1/2 an hour twice a day.
Then disaster. The day after the snap ended, I left a dome light on, and the car needed a jump. Right away I could tell the IMA was different. It would go from zero charge to 100% in a blink, then struggled to stay over 50%.
Today I took a trip to a local mall, taking the interstate. The battery showed 4/5 upon start then on the 6 mile trip into town (to catch the interstate), the battery dipped to 50%, despite braking several times at lights (with ECO on). Mpg was 38. I’d usually get 43mpg.
Within 3 minutes of getting on the interstate, with ECO off to start, my IMA went to 0% even before any inclines, and remained there for the 8 miles of incline it took to get to the mall. It was charging the entire time, but not assisting at all. On the trip home, a gentle slope, it jumped to 100% full and assisted normally. My mpg jumped to 46.
Did something happen in the cold? Or the jump? It’s like it went from a healthy battery pack to a dying one overnight. Or was it just cold? It was 38°. Should I run the car in the neighborhood for 15 minutes before going on a highway now, or let it idle?
